Symptoms

For most people, the signs and symptoms of gas and gas pain are all too obvious. They include:

Voluntary or involuntary passing of gas, either as belches or as flatus.

Sharp, jabbing pains or cramps in your abdomen. These pains may occur anywhere in your abdomen and can change locations quickly and get better quickly.

A 'knotted' feeling in your abdomen.

Swelling and tightness in your abdomen (bloating).

Sometimes, gas pains may be constant or so intense that it feels like something is seriously wrong.

Gas can sometimes be mistaken for:

Heart disease

Gallstones

Appendicitis

When to see a doctor

It's considered normal to pass gas as flatus between 10 and 20 times a day. That amount varies from day to day, however.

Call your doctor if your gas is accompanied by:

Prolonged abdominal pain

Bloody stools

A change in stool color or frequency

Weight loss

Chest pain

Persistent or recurrent nausea or vomiting

In addition, talk to your doctor if your gas or gas pains are so persistent or severe that they interfere with your ability to live a normal life. In most cases, treatment can help reduce or alleviate the problem.

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